Eli was propped up against the head board of his bed- one arm draped around Grace's body as she lay beside him, one of her arms lay across his chest. He looked down at her sleeping body- the soft moonlight that was pouring through his window illuminating her creamy skin. The sheets were tucked down around her middle, revealing her supple breasts. Her hair was scattered across his pillow, and she was breathing light, sweet breaths.
He studied her features. Even, lightly and gently, ran his fingers across her arms and chest- and then her face, tracing his forefinger along her top lip, and then along the creases of her brow. She slept with a frown on her face, as though she was concentrating really hard on the dreams she was having……...or reliving the bad day she had…………either way, it was dead cute, and made Eli smile from ear to ear.

ELI (looks down at hands, and then up to camera) why am I leaving her behind? She's the only person that has ever made me feel like……...something……….she's the only girl………….(frowns) she's the only girl I have ever really loved completely and totally………..(smiles) the only girl I'm going to keep loving long after my life collapses……….like I know it will, around me!

Eli looked over at the clock on his bedside table, it was 9:30.

"Grace"

She let out a soft murmur before rolling over and coiling her legs around Eli's middle.

He let out a small laugh, and brushed a hand against her subtle cheek; "Grace………..you have to go,…………" he whispered.

"Hmmm?" she asked in a moan.

"It's 10:00………..dad and Lily will be back soon………."

"I want to stay here………" she replied, opening one eye cheekily.

Eli smiled, and bent his head down, kissing her cheek lightly; "I want you too aswell…………but you have to go…………."

Grace opened both her eyes, and stared up at Eli's face, a smile slowly spreading across her pink lips.

"What?" Eli asked in a whisper, moving his head close to hers.

"My mum was right…………" Grace said softly, and giggled as Eli raised an eyebrow suspiciously.

"The best part is waking up in you're arms……….."

He smiled, and moved his lips close to hers; "so you don't regret……….?" He started, but Grace cut him off by shaking her head softly, and then kissed his lips; "not one bit" she said, firmly.

"I want you to stay" Eli moaned as Grace pulled away.

"You know I can't……….." she replied, throwing the covers off herself.

Eli studied her naked body, unable to remove his cheeky smile; "but I really want you to!" he groaned again.

Grace sat at the edge of his bed, legs dangling over the edge; she bent down and grabbed her sweater, pulling it over her head.

Eli wrapped an arm around her middle, and pulled her back slightly; his lips meeting her neck in a kiss; "I want to wake up with you in the morning" he said, running a hand across her bare legs.

She laughed out, as she felt his hands wandering across her flesh; "I have an idea………" she exclaimed.

Still kissing her neck and running his hands over her body, "What's that?" he murmured, without pulling his lips from her skin.

"We run away to Las Vegas and elope!" she laughed, turning her head to the side and meeting Eli's lips.

"Tonight?" he asked; knowing it couldn't happen.

"Tonight" she replied, pulling away from him and slipping into her cargo pants.

"You wouldn't be teasing me with empty promises, now………would you?" he asked as he watched her stand up and adjust her clothes.

Grace turned around, a sly smile across her mouth, "of course not, my dear!"

Eli laughed, and Grace walked towards his door; "You don't really have to go right now, do you?" he asked, far more serious this time.

"I don't make empty promises…………" Grace said over her shoulder, "but I do sleep and run……….." she said, opening the door.

Eli scoffed; "I feel so used!" he grinned.

Grace turned around and put her hands on her hips, tilting her head to the side; "feel like being used again tomorrow night!" she asked.

Eli's eyes lit up, and a big cheesy, male I'm-gonna-get-laid-again look came across his lips.

Grace blew him a kiss and left his room, leaving Eli sprawled across his bed- left with his thoughts of a naked Grace, and his hands running along her soft skin…………and the ever-impending reminder……….that he has to tell her!


"Well that was a complete waste of my time!" Jessie yelled as she stormed into the house.

"Honey!" Rick tried, but she was already bolting up the stairs.

Lily rested a hand on his shoulder and shook her head, "don't even try to tell her she's wrong…………"

Rick sighed; "I know………"

"I don't believe Karen was so stubborn………." Lily said, looking down at her feet.

"Hmmm" Rick murmured, "she and Jessie together screamed the place down………."

Lily nodded, "they're too much alike" she sighed.

"Tell me about it!" Rick agreed, rubbing his forehead.

"Maybe I should go and see Jessie………"

Rick turned to Lily, "will she talk to you?" he asked, trying to suppress his doubt.

Lily shrugged "worth a shot"


"Jess?"

"Go away"

"I can't do that"

Jessie sat up and stared icily at Lily as she approached her.

"I won't talk to you!" she warned.

"That's fine……….. I was planning on doing most of the talking anyway…………"

Jessie crossed her arms and sat still as Lily took a seat at the end of Jessie's bed, a parcel in her hands.

"Jessie………..you're mother means well…………" Lily started.

"Don't even try and stand up for her!" Jessie spat.

Lily sighed, "your not going to make this easy for me………..are you…..……?" she asked, rubbing her forehead.

"Well none of you are making this easy for me!" Jessie remarked.

"Much as you think we are………we're not out to get you or make you're life hell, Jess………."

"Sure seems like it!"

"Well nothing is ever what it seems!" Lily retorted.

Jessie pouted and scoffed under her breath, "I thought you of all people would be on my side………."

"You're side?" Lily asked, raising an eyebrow.

Jessie turned to her, "Yes! Because unlike my mother……….you tend not to judge people……….you accept them……….."

Lily let out a sarcastic laugh; "I think you have me on too high a pedestal!"

Jessie turned away, "well either way……..you let me down………"

"Me? Personally? I am the single reason for you're unhappiness?"

Jessie turned back to her, her face softened now; "well……..no……….."

"Jess………..contrary to your thoughts about all the adults in you're life being against you………… I personally think the idea of you seeing a psychiatrist is ludicrous because I have never seen you happier than when you are with Katie……….." Lily sighed, "now I don't want to make you're mother out to be the bad guy……..because I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't do the exact same thing as her if it were Grace in you're situation…………."

Somehow, Jessie doubted that.

"You're mother loves you….……..and you're father………..and Eli…………and me…..…..and Katie" Lily started again, "And sometimes the people that love you the most, are the ones that tend to make the biggest mistakes in what's best for you……….but only because they are trying so hard to make you happy………so hard infact that they can't see what you really need………they can't see that you don't really need them to make decisions about what's best for you!"

Jessie felt her eyes well up, knowing deep down…..that was true.

"Here" Lily said, passing Jessie the brown paper parcel. It was flat and square, obviously a book.

"I finally put this together for you……..sorry it's so late……….but, happy birthday none the less" and with that, Lily stood up, and walked down the stairs, leaving Jessie alone.

She slowly unwrapped the parcel, finding a photo album. It was a beautiful album; especially customized- it had a deep crimson cover, with swirly writing on the front that said 'Happy Birthday Jessie'.

She slowly opened the first page, and gasped when she saw the first three pictures. One of her, Eli, Grace and Zoe all dressed up for her birthday party. There was also one of Jessie with Henry and her mother, and the other photo was one of Jessie, her father and Lily.

She slowly opened each page, and each had beautiful photos from Jessie's birthday. Jessie standing with her friends, dancing, pulling faces. They were all beautiful. And then, in the middle of the album was a picture of Jessie and Katie, when they were slow dancing. She laughed as she studied the mortified faces in the picture that looked on at Jessie in Katie's arms. The photo was by itself, with the same swirly writing at the bottom that read 'true love'. Jessie allowed a single tear to escape.

A few more pages through was a lovely picture of Grace, enclosed in Eli's arms. Obviously a candid picture taken by Lily, who thought nothing of the harmless dance. Nothing is ever what it seems………..Jessie thought, as she smiled at the picture- Grace looked beautiful in her flowing dress, and Eli looked so handsome in his tux. Both their eyes were closed as they melted in each other's arms. Nothing is ever what it seems.